Rail joint



July 26 1927. 1,636,884

W, F. WAYNE RAIL JOINT Filed Mafch 16.- 1927 a 7' 4 H w T Mmm Attorney Patented July 26,1927. i 1,5353% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IE. WAYNE, F EDWABDSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed March 16, 1927. Serial No. 175,150. 4

This invention relates to an improved rail has its inner longitudinal side in alinement joint which is of a construction to obviate with the web 5 of therail and has its other the necessity of employing fish-plates, bolts, edge offset with respect to this web. and similar fastening devices. It will be noticed that this makes the 60 My principal object is to produce a novel base comparatively wide, and it is of a joint which is believed to be an improvement height equal to about one-half of the upon known structures of a similar class, complete heightof the rail section. Rising the improvement being characterized by from the central portion of this base is an simplicity in design, dependability, and interlocking tongue 8, the upper surface of 65 z strength, the arrangement being such as to which terminates on a plane slightly below allow relative freedom of movement to comthe surface of the tread 3. For convenience pensate for contraction and expansion. of description, the portions 9 and 10 on Briefly, the invention comprises rail secopposite sides of this tongue are to be destionsequipped with complemental male and ignated as supporting ledges. At the junc- 7" female parts constructed for snug interfitture of the base 7 and the main rail section ting relation, and to provide a compact and is a reinforcing enlargement 11, one face of rigid joint which cannot open or spread to which operates as an abutment, as indicated either side. at 12.

The male member is important in that it Referring now to Fig. 5 wherein the con- 75 2c embodies a relatively high and wide base struction of the female member 13 is shown, portion carrying an upstanding tongue, it will be noticed that this comprises a biwhereby to provide supporting ledges on furcated extension including furcations 14:

opposite sides of the tongue for the furcaand 15 based upon and to provide an intertions of the complemental female member. vening slot for accommodating tongue 8. 80 5 The female member is particularly advan- These furcations are of a height equal to the tageous in that one of the furcations operates height of the tongue 8. .It will be noticed.

to form a part of the wheel tread, the other however, that the furcation 14 is of special being offset in an outward direction and havcross sectional configuration so as to proing a lower web extension engaging the outer vide a continuation of the tread section of B longitudinal edge of the base portion of the the rail 1. The end thereof abuts the commale member. plemental tread sections of the rail 2 to pro- Other features of the construction will bevide an unbroken wheel tread. The furcacome apparent from the following description 15 is provided with a depending web tion and drawings. 16 terminating in an outstanding flangel'T. e0 In the drawings The web is of a thickness to provide a shoul- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view der 18 on the inner side to engage the ledge showing the members in connection. 10. This arrangement also provides an abut- Fig. 2 is a cross section through the same. ment surface 19 with which the end of the Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the female base 7 cooperates. 95 member of the joint. It. is plain that with this construction, Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the male when the two members of the joint are in inmemher of the joint, and terlocking connection. the furcations 14c and Fig. 5 is an elevated perspective observing 15 rest upon the ledges 9 and 10 while the the under side of the female member of the tongue 8 extends into the slot between the mo showing. furcations. The end of the furcation 15 en- Referring now to the drawings in detail, it gages the abutment 12, and the end of the will be seen that the reference character 1 base 7 engages the abutment surface 19. designates one rail section, the reference The web 16 contacts the outer longitudicharacter 2, the other rail section. These innal face of the base 7. It will thus be seen 105 clude the customary wheel tread-s 3, base that the tongue and slot connection comes flanges 4, and connecting web 5. on the outside of the rail and at a point he The rail section 2 (see Fig. 4), carries yond the wheel treads 3. It will also be the male member of the joint, generally desnoticed that the upper surfaces of the reignated by the reference character 6, one inforcement 11, furcation 15, and tongue 8, 110 of the primary parts of this member being are in a plane with each other but on a plane 1 the extension forming the base 7 This base below the tops of the wheel treads.

The particular construetion, as Well as the advantages derived therefrom will undoubtedly be clear to persons familiar with rail'joint structures. For this reason, a, more detailed description is thought uninecessary.

lVhile the preferred en'ibodilnent of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size" shape and arrangement coming within the scope of the adjoined claim may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is In a structure of the class described, a

rail section having a relatively thiek and Wide base extension provided with an up standing tongue on opposite sides of: which are supporting ledges, a reinforcement the rail section, :1 coinpleinentel rail section pr0- vided with a bifurcated. portion the furezv tions straddlingsaid tongue and reeting on said ledges, one furcation prm'iding :1- Wheel tread continuation, and the other fureation being provided with. a. depending Web engaging the out er longitudinal face of the aforesaid base.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

WILLIAM F. WAYNE.

juncture of the base and body of said 

